The Phillies hope they have turned a corner with 20 games to play.
They beat the Marlins yesterday at Citizens Bank Park, 8-5, to move within two games of the San Diego Padres in the National League wild-card race. It's just the second time the Phillies have won a series since they took 2 of 3 from the Nationals at RFK Stadium last month. That's 2 out of 7 series won. No question they must play better than that with just six series remaining.
They open a four-game series tonight against the Rockies, who are just one game behind the Phillies in the wild-card race.
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The latest Philliescast is up.
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Jim Salisbury writes about an intriguing possibility: the Phillies making a run at Dontrelle Willis in the off-season.
Could Willis be traded? Perhaps. But he will not become a free agent until after the 2009 season, so the Marlins have time to make that decision. And it's unclear if the Phillies would have interest in Willis, whose velocity is down. They would hate to live through another Freddy Garcia Experience, although Willis maintains he is healthy. But I'm sure the Phillies would have to think long and hard about any potential deal. Jimmy Rollins thinks Willis simply needs a change of scenery. Hey, sometimes that works. Maybe it works for Willis. Or maybe he's just not the pitcher he once was.
If the Phillies had a match with the Marlins, would the risk be worth it?
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Cole Hamels said he thinks he can be back to make two or three more starts for the Phillies. We shall see. The real test is when he throws off the mound for the first time, which could happen some time this week.
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PItching match ups for this week's series against Colorado.
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Photos from yesterday's game.
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The Packers beat the Eagles yesterday, 16-13. I point this out only because I'm from Wisconsin.
Comments (6)
Was that Chris Roberson fielding punts for the Eagles? And thank god, we won't have to listen to any inane E-A-G-L-E-S chants during this homestand. Funny to see Reid now living the life of Manual, getting ripped.
We don't win at at least 3 games we are in deep do-do. Playoff renewals are due in Wednesday, decisions, decisions.
I beleive we should think hard about Willis (let's get MRI's, X-rays first this time), but the Marlins will want way too much for us to make the deal. My preference is to stock up the bullpen, at the major and minor league level and seriously consider getting a closer, I'm not remotely sold on Myers as the guy. Gordon is shot, Mesa and Alfonseca are on their last legs and Geary needs his confidence back. Madson is now a question mark, so keep Romaro, Condrey and Kane. We need pitchers worse than the Eagles need a punt returner.
Posted by jimmymack | September 10, 2007 11:24 AM
Posted on September 10, 2007 11:24
jimmymack, your hired. We need people in the front office with knowledge, that cares about our team...Great stuff on Eagle fans and their chants..I'll be at the Eagles game next week..Im thinking about starting a Phillies chant..P-H-I-L-L-I-E-S..Phillies ! Charlie, once again, rallies this team back into contention..Meaningful games, in the month of September..Football,to me, really doesn't start till baseball season is over..Colorado,
who is very much in contention for post season,
is gone to be tough to beat, in our Park. Their a good hitting club. Phils ,will probably need to score (8)runs a game, to win. P-H-I-L-L-I-E-S..Phillies !!
Posted by Pat H | September 10, 2007 11:56 AM
Posted on September 10, 2007 11:56
Down the stretch we come either your on the wagon or get off now, we going for a ride to the wire same as every year, but with the way they have hung in all year with the pitching and injury bug, do not be shocked if they get this team into post season play. Here is a look at your final 20 games
Phillies final 20
"4 colorado Home"
"3 new york Away"
"3 st.louis Away"
"4 washington Away"
"3 braves Home"
"3 washington Home"
Mets final 20
"3 atlanta Home"
"3 phillies Home"
"3 washington Away"
"4 florida Away"
"3 washington Home"
"1 St.louis Home"
"3 florida Home"
We always have hope until mathamaticly they are eliminated so they do still have a shot at getting in the playoffs with a division title or a wild card birth with the problems they had either way would be ok, and trust this city would go crazy with the amount of people who will support them in post season play, it is a shame that so many people will not support them when they are down, but hey they do what they want. If phillies are in playoff picture it could be special, being that this team for some reason gets so hyped and ready to play for big teams and big games, but against the lower level teams they seam to be more laid back and lose the series i still never will figure that out, they need to show up day in and day out with the same attitude and they with the talent they have could easily be a 100 win team. That is why they always say it is important to get off to a fast start, remember the start of the season, man don't remind us.
Buckle up here we go.
Posted by Daniel H | September 10, 2007 12:18 PM
Posted on September 10, 2007 12:18
hey daniel h.,,,it would be wise for you and your merry bunch of men to just give up on that bunch of overrated widbags you call a team in philly.NO DIVISION TITLE.....NO WILD CARD... NOTHING....don't you guys get it yet,philly will never win anything...ever....you will be condemned to a lifetime of losing ....son get the antacids ready and start chugging some peptol bismol and hybernate for the winter and we will see you again next spring....your favorite tormentor(jimmymac you know who i am)the #1 metsfan.see you this weekend for your farewell party....what a bunch of jokes you philly fans are..
Posted by metsfan | September 10, 2007 12:39 PM
Posted on September 10, 2007 12:39
See you in October, buddy.
Posted by V | September 10, 2007 3:12 PM
Posted on September 10, 2007 15:12
Todd, you have it wrong. The Eagles beat the Eagles 16-13.
Posted by Ed S. | September 10, 2007 11:54 PM
Posted on September 10, 2007 23:54